Club members shared their summer adventures with each other.
Marana Rotary Club
July 18, 2023 weekly meeting
The Hybrid meeting started with some technical hiccups as the IT system at the NWFD room was uncooperative. While Ian resolved the problem, the first 30’ were spent with those on-line enjoying an extra-long social time.
Don and Cathy Jorgensen joined from Seattle, Randy was also in Seattle, Bob was in OKC, Andy was in Boulder, Utah while Andrea, Harold and Mark were chiming in from Tucson. Lots of topics were discussed, especially weather with those enjoying cooler temperatures chiding those in Tucson. Don, Cathy and Randy enjoyed dinner together the night before in Seattle. Bob was heading to Virginia (again) tomorrow and Andy was fighting to resolve a failed water well at his home in Utah. Harold was chiming in from Tucson while recovering from his second knee replacement. When asked, he reported that he has not yet reached the jogging stage; however, the walker is serving him well.
Mark was loaded with school district projects as he ramps up for the start of the school sessions; noting that the approved bond measures last year had created challenging work with long overdue, flush budgets! Randy will be meandering back to Tucson soon with at least one detour through Montana. Stories were shared about fun adventures around the Puget Sound region. Ian resolved the IT issues and the meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30, Tucson time.
Announcements
- Cathy said that, due to the late start, today’s speaker, Maria, will be postponed. Since it is on video, the video will instead be emailed to everyone to enjoy in their spare time.
- Cathy asked that any notes to First Responders (last meting’s community service project) be sent to Mary for distribution, and she thanked Mary for volunteering her time for this.
- GOOD NEWS- Ian informed us that the NWFD facility will be available through Dec 31, after which repairs will begin, hopefully ending in May 2024. Hence, we need to find alternative meeting solutions soon, still, but have more breathing room. We will return to NWFD once repairs are completed.
- Cindy D. reported that a host-family is still needed for the incoming YE student coming in to attend Mountain View. Time is running short as a candidate will need to go through vetting process, so there is an urgent need to identify a family.
- Don pointed out that candidates for District Governor 2-years out need to fill out their application by July 31. The application is available on the District website.
- Next week’s meeting will be 100% online Zoom.
Happy Bucks
- Harold was happy that his second knee replacement has gone well and that he begins home therapy today.
- Mark was enjoying the rains.
- Andrea was also thankful for the rains and looking forward to her nephew visiting the coming weekend.
- Bob was in Oklahoma City, enjoying the cool temps and leaving for Virginia tomorrow where they will frolic in the region’s lakes.
- Randy was looking forward to a high temp of 72 degrees today in Seattle. Randy also mentioned the upcoming Rotary Friendship Exchange trip being organized by him, the Dooling’s and the Jorgensen’s where a group of 8 will visit India for 7 days in Feb 2024.
- Andy was grateful he was not in Tucson for the extreme heat and hopes that everyone there be safe.
- Cathy J. was looking forward to going to Victoria BC before heading back to Tucson in August.
- Don J. was grateful to be looking out at Puget Sound while attending Zoom meetings. Don lamented the time he is spending on Zoom meetings, often planning the next Zoom meeting, as District Governor.
- Laura was also enjoying the “amazing rains”, especially getting soaked in her 25-yard dash to her car, poorly timed! She was grateful for having a Subaru which did not turn into a canoe in the flooded streets.
- Beckie was enjoying pictures of her grandkids playing in mud puddles in Utah, and grateful for an amazing Amazon Prime Day where she was able to stock up on goodies for the upcoming visit of her grandkids for 3 nights in August.
- Joan was happy to be with “y’all” again and said she much preferred hot and dry to the monsoons.
- Mary was happy that rains were bringing all the critters out, except for the scorpion who apparently stung her dog, causing a scare and $$. He/she is thankfully recovering and the culprit has been squashed!
- Dan reported that Heather was now in Kentucky on her final leg of the cross-country bike ride which will end on August 5. Heather is tired of sleeping on floors during the ride! Dan played pickleball yesterday in the heat, raising questions about his mental stability.
- Cathy D. was happy to have received the first YE student from Finland last week, who is undergoing shock from encountering the desert heat.
- John was happy that Laura managed to up the audio and he can now hear better! John was also happy that, today, his barber of 50 years had joined him today at the meeting.
- Cathy was grateful for the help of Ian and Laura solving today’s IT problems, being not an IT expert. You’re not alone, Cathy!
- Peter- while Peter was not present today, the group speculated on his whereabouts…..Egypt maybe?
Other discussions
A reminder that we still need to find alternatives for meetings after December. Physical locations should be in the Cortaro Farms/ I-10 area for everyone’s convenience.
Joan will represent our club at the Marana Chamber gatherings and meetings, and Joan encouraged others to become involved if possible. Our club will be recognized for our 20- year membership anniversary in the Chamber at the August 17 meeting, 8:30 to 10AM.
Laura discussed an in-depth workshop on growing membership in Rotary Clubs. It is suggested that clubs target a minimum growth of 10% in order to compensate for expected attrition in membership. It was suggested that Laura share the PowerPoint presentation and her knowledge gained in an upcoming meeting, sooner the better given the importance of the topic.
Yours,
Andy Swarthout (any errors are mine and mine alone!)